CHAPTER 131 : DRAMA FOR DINNER

Kira's mouth dropped open. "You—!"

But before she could even finish what she was about to say, Bryan, who was already close to her, leaned down and planted a quick peck on her cheek, making her eyes widen instantly.

The audacity!

Then, without giving her a chance to retaliate, he moved past her and took his seat at the dining table like nothing had happened.

Laughing softly and shaking his head, Aiden stepped closer to Kira and stood beside her. "Bryan, I don't even know what to say to you," he muttered, while still laughing.

Meanwhile, Elara and Orion looked at each other with amused expressions before turning their attention back to Kira.

"Well, at least he was honest about it." Orion said to Kira while chuckling, enjoying how his son teased her. 

"I'll get back at you, Bryan Tyrell," Kira threatened, narrowing her eyes at Bryan and crossing her arms. "Oh, I will!"

Still laughing softly, Aiden leaned in and pressed a soft peck to the side of her head. "Don't mind him," he murmured and placed his hand on her back, gently guiding her to her seat at the dining table. "You know how he is."

"I do," Kira responded as she sat down.

"And that is why I must have my revenge," she told Aiden as he also sat down beside her, Bryan already seated on her other side as usual.

Even as Aiden tried to calm her down while Elara and Orion seemed to want it to go on as they were enjoying the banter, Kira still kept shooting Bryan glares, and Bryan, who, of course, didn't care, only grinned wider, completely unfazed by her threats.

Then suddenly, Kira smiled. Although it was not a normal smile as it had an eerie sensation to it and Bryan, not noticing that sensation at first, smiled back... until his gaze dropped to her hand.

A fork.

She was holding it menacingly, spinning it between her fingers as if she was going to use it on him or probably stab him with it.

Immediately, Bryan's smile disappeared, and he straightened in his seat.

Clearing his throat, he turned toward his mother. "So, Mother," he said, acting very well-behaved and innocent. "What are we eating? We are all starving, please... before someone else eats me up."

"We will be having you for dinner, son," Elara answered smoothly, as if it was the most natural and normal answer.

Hearing Elara's response, Orion and Aiden chuckled while Kira, despite acting all vengeful and scary, laughed.

Bryan, however, placed a hand on his chest, pretending to be horrified. "I can assure you all that I am far from delicious," he declared, keeping a serious tone. "You all will not be able to eat me. I am tough and extremely hard to chew, and it is not worth the trouble at all."

"We are Werewolves, dear brother," Aiden smirked, "and I am pretty sure crushing you with our teeth will be the least of our problems," he said.

"You can think of other ways to escape this though; go ahead. Think," Aiden urged him mockingly, everyone at the table laughing. "Don't stop now."

"Bryan, just stop being dramatic. Those flimsy excuses would not work on any of us," Kira chimed in, laughing. "My fork is ready, and I shall have you to fill up my stomach."

"Now, with what you said, how do you expect me to act dramatic?" Bryan asked, his hand still on his chest. "I am simply stating facts. You all are becoming very horrifying, and Mother, if you truly must serve me as dinner, at least season me well. A little salt, onions, maybe even some pepper will do."

"Mmm...that is very tempting," Elara said, laughing softly as she rose from her seat. "But, enough talking now, let's eat. Not you, Bryan. Food. Let's eat food."

With no one saying anything anymore and just laughing silently, Kira stood as well to assist Elara. She picked up a serving spoon and began dishing out rice onto the plates, while Elara handled the stew.

"Thank you, dear," Elara said warmly.

"It's nothing," Kira responded, smiling at Elara sweetly.

As they served, the conversation around the table continued naturally.

"So, Dad," Bryan said, looking at his father. "If I do end up on the menu tonight, is there anything you would miss most about me?"

"Hmm," Orion thought, rubbing his chin as if he was deep in thought. "The silence. This behavior is unlike you, and you are beginning to scare me."

Aiden who could not suppress his laugh anymore burst out laughing, and Kira also laughed, the spoon in her hand nearly dropping. 

"Father, I am hurt. But you are right," Bryan agreed with his father. "When I think about it, I am overly talkative tonight. I do not like it."

"I like it," Kira assured him with a smile once she stopped laughing. "It is good to at least be talkative once in a while and laugh."

"If you say so, my lady," Bryan said, smiling back at her.

Once the food was served properly, Elara and Kira took their seats again.

"Thank you," Orion said, nodding at them both.

"Yes, thank you," Aiden added, smiling.

"Much appreciated," Bryan said before turning to Kira with an innocent face. "I suppose we are good now, and you are not planning to stab me anymore?"

"We will see," Kira responded, not once looking at him, her focus on her food.

With that, they all picked up their utensils and started eating.

There was not much talking now as everyone ate, the sounds of utensils clinking against the plates filling the room. 

Everyone ate quietly, enjoyed their meal, but at some point, that peace and quiet shifted to something else.

Bryan, Kira, and Aiden had started talking among themselves and laughing softly occasionally. There was no banter until Bryan reached for a piece of chicken, which Aiden had also reached for at the same time.

"I saw it first," Aiden said with finality as he and Bryan both froze.

"That's funny," Bryan countered. "I felt it first."

Kira, who was busy chewing slowly, arched a brow. "You felt it first? What does that even mean?"

"It means my soul was already connected to this particular piece of chicken," Bryan explained. "Long before my fork reached it, we were already connected."

"That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard," Aiden retorted, still not giving up.

"That's okay, brother. Jealousy is loud and yours is enjoyable," Bryan shot back smoothly.

"Oh Goddess," Kira giggled as she watched and enjoyed their back-and-forth banter. "You both act like children," she said, and then reached out with her own fork. "You know what? If you two can't decide...no, no. Since you two can not decide, I will just take it."

"No, you won't," Aiden said, he and Bryan blocking her attempt to take the chicken and turning to her immediately, their glares sharp. 

"You won't be taking anything," Bryan added, agreeing with Aiden. "Look at her brother! Trying to steal our chicken."

"Stealing?" Kira asked, laughing in disbelief. "How is this stealing? I am trying to help you both stop fighting. It is not as if this is the only chicken on this table, and rightfully this particular chicken belongs to me."

"Says who?" Aiden challenged.

"Says me," Kira said in a low voice as she tried to take the chicken, but they blocked her attempt again.

"Bryan love, Aiden love, I can't have this chicken?" Kira asked them in a sad tone, her face turning sad. "Alright then," she said as if she was giving up. "I won't have any at all."

"No, love, you can have it," Bryan said, immediately removing his fork.

"Really?" Kira asked sadly.

"Of course," Aiden nodded, also removing his fork. "You can have it all."

Immediately, Kira picked it up with her fork, and popped it into her mouth.

"Thanks boys," she grinned mischievously. "That was really sweet of you two."

"Kiraaaaa," Bryan groaned but chuckled as he picked up another chicken.

"Yes, mate?" Kira answered innocently. "Is there a problem?"

"No, there isn't," Aiden answered on Bryan's behalf. "It's not your fault we fell for that, or did we?"

"Well..." Kira shrugged. "You can't blame me for being smart."

"You really think we didn't know what you were doing?" Aiden asked her while chuckling and shaking his head. "I suppose your own definition of smart is entirely different from the world's."

"You better take that back, Aiden Tyrell," Kira warned, although she was not being serious. "Take it back right now, eat and digest that insult."

Meanwhile, across the table, Orion and Elara watched the three of them with wide smiles on their faces.

"Our boys have become more playful," Orion leaned slightly toward Elara and said, lowering his voice so only she could hear, especially as Bryan, Kira, and Aiden kept throwing words at each other. "I know they do laugh, but this is different. And sincerely, it is a little surprising."

"I know, right?" Elara agreed, her eyes soft and her smile warm. She looked at Kira, watching the way she smiled at Bryan and Aiden while throwing more teasing remarks at them, and said, "She brings so much glow and light into their lives. Even ours."

"Yes," Orion nodded. "She does."